Patent GB-578158-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to coin controlled vending machines
IPC: G07F5/22
Filed: 1944-03-29
Abstract: 578,158. Coin-freed article delivery apparatus. BRECKNELL, MUNRO, & ROGERS, Ltd., and DOLMAN, H. J. March 29, 1944, No. 5777. [Class 27] Electrically-operated mechanism totalises the value of inserted coins, and completes a circuit for unlocking a drawer, or other manuallyoperable delivery mechanism, if the coins total the required amount which can be adjusted. The construction shown has separate insertion shoots for the different coins, each with one or more pairs of contacts arranged to be momentarily closed in succession by the coins as they pass, and connected to one or other of a pair of solenoids 1, 2. Solenoid 2, at each energization, rocks a spring-retracted lever 9 carrying a driving pawl 25 which advances a ratchet-. wheel 30 by one tooth. Solenoid 1 also rocks the lever 9, but through an arc sufficient to advance the ratchet-wheel 30 through several teeth at each energization. Each tooth of the ratchet-wheel may, for example, represent one halfpenny, in which case insertion of a halfpenny energizes solenoid 2 once, a threepennypiece energizes solenoid 1 once, whilst other coins energize one or other solenoid two or more times according to their value, and the final position of the ratchet-wheel -corresponds to the total value of the coins inserted. A non- return pawl 68 holds it in this position. The ratchet-wheel carries a contact arm 44 adapted to traverse an arcuate series of holes 108 in an insulating cover-plate 99. Contact plugs such as 125, 155 are insertable in these holes, each plug controlling the circuit of release solenoids for article-delivery drawers at one price which is adjustable by shifting the plug from hole to hole. If the contact arm 44 comes to rest on the plug 125, for example, solenoids 117 and 118 are energized and rock looking catches 135, 136 out of engagement with a pair of drawers 126 and. 127, either of which can then be opened, the other being locked by a sliding bolt 142 actuated by the drawer which has been opened. The second contact plug 155 shown is connected to similar mechanism controlling other drawers for articles at a different (lower) price. Opening a drawer zeroises the totaliser ratchet-wheel 30 ready for a further operation, the drawers having lugs 147 adapted to engage arms 148 on a rock'-shaft 149 connected by linkage 116 with a lever 90. This lever is rocked clockwise, its arm 97 raising a spring- loaded slide 81 by engagement under a lug 88, so that prongs 86 and 87 on the slide lift the pawls 25 and 68 clear of the ratchet-wheel 30. A spring-actuated catch 71 snaps under the lug 88 to hold the slide up whilst a spring 53 returns the ratchet-wheel, whereupon a pin 33 on the wheel trips the catch 71 to release slide 81 allowing the pawls 68 and 25 to re-engage the wheel ready for the next operation. In its normal position, i.e. at the end of its driving stroke, the pawl 25 engages under an abutment surface 96 on lever 90. This holds it down on the ratchet-wheel to prevent over-running. The armature of solenoid 2 rocks the arm 9 through a tappet 11, which can be adjusted against a spring 156 by a nut 158, in order to regulate its stroke exactly to one tooth. Accurate engagement of the pawl 68 is ensured by an adjustable mounting 111, 113. Specifications 578,159, 578,160, 578,162 and 578,163 are referred to.